Heading into 2019, MHP said farewell to three board members and welcomed four. Outgoing board members include Paul Sween, Dominium; Carliee Witta Warner, Neighborworks America; and Joe Wheeler, Southeastern Minnesota Multi-County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (SEMMCHRA). New board members include Andrea Brennan, City of Minneapolis; Harry Melander, Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council; Buffy Beranek, SEMMCHRA; and Mark Moorhouse, Dominium.

Photo: (From left) Outgoing board members Paul Sween, Carilee Witta Warner, and Joe Wheeler

Outgoing board members’ service to MHP — and their deep commitment to affordable housing — will have ripple effects beyond the organization and their term of service.

“We’re grateful to Paul, Carilee, and Joe for their many years of dedicated leadership on MHP’s board, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to learn from each of them,” MHP Executive Director Anne Mavity said. “These leaders have committed their careers to advancing affordable housing and community development. Their insights and expertise will have lasting impact on MHP and communities in Minnesota and beyond.”

Sween, outgoing Board Chair, served on the MHP board for nine years. “I’m honored to have had the opportunity to serve with MHP,” Sween said. “MHP staff is engaged, talented, and committed, and they have done excellent work to build capacity and spread the message that affordable housing is key to the success of our communities. That work has had an impact. More and more, local units of government are stepping up and recognizing the importance of investing in affordable housing.”

Looking ahead, new board members will play a key role in challenging MHP to meet the ambitious goals of the recently-adopted 2019-2021 Strategic Plan. “I can’t wait to dig in together to continue to grow MHP’s impact,” Mavity said. “I’m excited to welcome Buffy, Andrea, Harry, and Mark to the MHP board. Their deep experience and expertise will power us forward as we work hard to achieve our goals.”

Three of MHP’s four new board members (from left) Andrea Brennan, Harry Melander, and Mark Moorhouse

Buffy Beranek

New board member Buffy Beranek is the recently-appointed Executive Director at SEMMCHRA, providing planning, direction, and legislative input. For the past 13 years, she has served as Deputy and Finance Director at SEMMCHRA. Previously, she successfully led and managed daily operations of a $600 million contract portfolio at Mayo Clinic, one of the nation’s premier healthcare organizations.

During Beranek’s career and personal experiences she has fought for access and funding for basic social needs – health, education and now housing. Her focus and purpose for serving on boards is to bring new ideas forward, work collaboratively across the State of Minnesota and fight to reduce unnecessary regulations while promoting locally-driven housing initiatives.

Andrea Brennan

New board member Andrea Brennan serves as Housing Policy & Development Director for the City of Minneapolis where she works to improve access to quality, affordable housing through policy and by financing and redeveloping single and multifamily residential real estate. “I’m excited to join a board with broad experience and representation from public and private sectors, across the state and along the housing continuum,” Brennan said.

Previously, Brennan served as the Director of Community and Economic Development for the Dakota County Community Development Agency and Deputy Executive Director for the Washington County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota, and serves as a board member of the Family Housing Fund and the Land Bank Twin Cities, Inc. Brennan is also a member of the Executive Committee of Heading Home Hennepin.

Harry Melander

New board member Harry Melander has 25 years of experience representing unions in the construction industry. Since 2009, Melander has served as president of the Minnesota State Building & Construction Trades Council, and he is employed by Dougherty Funding, LLC, a financer and lender for commercial real estate. Melander has also served an 8 year term as a Metropolitan Council Member appointed by Governor Dayton; the Metropolitan Council has a significant role in regional housing policy and planning

Melander is committed to advancing affordable housing in Minnesota. “Housing should not be a privilege but a right for all Minnesotans,” Melander said. “I’m excited to be a part of an organization that supports this belief and will move it forward during the 2019 legislative session.”

Mark Moorhouse

As Partner and Senior Vice President of Dominium, new board member Mark Moorhouse is responsible for the day-to-day business operations for the growing group of nearly 70 professionals in the Development and Acquisitions department who focus on affordable housing.

“I am excited to join the MHP Board,” Moorhouse said. “I look forward to offering my expertise in the affordable real estate industry and will continue to do my part in advocating for improving conditions of home and community.”

Moorhouse has extensive experience with various federal, state and local housing programs. Since joining Dominium in 1996, he has worked on several significant portfolio acquisitions, new project developments, and the acquisition of existing apartment projects. He has played an integral role in helping the company grow from managing 6,400 units in 1996 to more than 26,000 units in 23 states today.